LITTLE ROCK – It’s the time of year when many people in Arkansas are finding newborn wildlife. The state is blessed with an abundance of wildlife and their offspring. Throughout the spring and summer, it is not uncommon to come across unattended baby wild animals. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission receives many calls about abandoned animals and what to do with them.

Many people discover what they feel to be lost or abandoned wildlife young and take them in, thinking they are doing the right thing. This always does more harm than good, said AGFC deer biologist Ralph Meeker. “We get quite a few calls about people thinking fawns have been abandoned by their mothers. Early in life, fawns lay very still so as not to attract predators (like well-intentioned humans), and are frequently mistaken for being in distress or abandoned,” Meeker explained.

“More often than not, their mothers are usually within hearing or visual range,” he added. In addition to being removed from their mother's care, many people try to care for these fawns, which is illegal under the Arkansas Game and Fish Code of Regulations as of July 1, 2012.

Wildlife are just that, wild. If you feel that a fawn is in immediate danger by laying in or very near a road or in the path of haying equipment, pick it up and move it over a few feet. However, you should never remove it from the immediate area. The mother will periodically check on her young. Meeker says most wild animals don't spend very much time at their young's side in order to not attract predators to the area. “Bottom line; just leave them alone," he said. “Allow them to be wildlife. If you remove them from the wild they cease to be just that.”

Shiloh, Berryville AYSSP squads snag regional titles

JACKSONVILLE – With perfect weather, over 200 teams competed in this opening weekend of the Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program regional tournaments. The Shiloh Christian Young Guns won the junior division and the Berryville Senior Squad 1 won the senior division. The regional tournament was held May 2-3 at the new Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation firing range at Jacksonville.

Three more regional tournaments will be held in the coming weeks, followed by the state finals June 6-7 at Jacksonville. The top 16 teams from each region will compete in the state finals. During competition, junior high teams shoot 125 rounds and the senior high teams shoot 250 rounds.

The AYSSP is an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission program that encourages youth to learn to shoot shotguns safely while enjoying the outdoors. To learn more about the AYSSP or to become a coach, visit www.agfc.com to download a brochure or contact Chuck Woodson at 501-230-4738.

Junior High Division

1. Shiloh Christian School Young Guns 113

2. Booneville Bearcat Jr. Trap Team 111

3. Berryville 2 111

4. Greenwood Bulldogs Pure Powder 104

5. 1st Baptist Church of Elkins Beta 102

6. Berryville 1 101

7. Shiloh Christian School Gold Swarm 95

8. Greenwood Trap Dawgs 95

9. Greenwood Bulldogs Powder Happy 95

10. Huntsville Clay Crackers-Gold 94

11. Minutemen 94

12. 1st Baptist Church of Elkins Omega 92

13. Biscuit Blasters Baker 92

14. Har-Ber Wildcats White 91

15. Greenwood Bulldogs Blazing Clays 89

16. Berryville 3 89

Senior High Division

1. Berryville 1 239

2. Greenwood Blazing Attack 238

3. Greenwood Trap Happy 235

4. Fayetteville Senior Squad 1 231

5. Minutemen A 228

6. Shiloh Christian Young Gunners 227

7. Green Forest Mountain Men 226

8. Mule Kickers 222

9. Greenwood G-Force 219

10. Shiloh Christian Gunslingers 219

11. Huntsville High Trout Troopers 218

12. Greenwood Bulldog Attack 218

13. Greenwood Trap Team 217

14. Huntsville High Opossum Police 217

15. Lamar Orange Crush 216

16. Cedarville Shut Your Trap Team 215

New Jacksonville firing range dedicated

JACKSONVILLE – Official dedication ceremonies were held last week for a new state‐of-­the-art public shooting range in Jacksonville. Several dignitaries, including Gov. Mike Beebe, were on hand for the dedication.

The facility is located at 2800 Graham Road in Jacksonville. It opened in early 2014. The facility is a partnership between the the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation and the City of Jacksonville.

The $4 million multi-use complex is the largest of its kind in the state. It includes a 14 trap fields, three skeet overlays, three lighted fields, two pavilions, a stocked lake and a 5,100 square foot clubhouse with classroom.

Future plans for this site include a 3D archery range. To schedule use of the range, the classroom or pavilions call 501-241-2441.

Conditions appear favorable for 2014 Big Bass Bonanza

LITTLE ROCK – Predicting conditions for a fishing competition several weeks in the future can be a lesson in futility. Still things are looking good at this point for the 2014 Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza.

This is the state’s most popular fishing tournament. Around 2,000 anglers, sometimes more, working the waters of the Arkansas River anywhere from the Oklahoma state line to the junction of the Mississippi River trying for the guaranteed $50,000 first prize.

It is an event only for amateur fishermen and likely is the largest such contest in the nation. Fishermen who compete in the professional bass circuits are not eligible.

In nearly three decades of the Bonanza and its predecessor, there has not been a repeat winner.

Last year’s champion was Jonathon Swink, 28 at the time and a resident of DeValls Bluff. He caught a 6.63-pound largemouth bass on the first morning of competition, and it held up all the way.

Tournament dates this year are Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 27-29. Entry fee is $80 per day through June 11, and then it will increase by $10. Big Bass Bonanza is an undertaking of Arkansas Hospitality Association with the assistance of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. All the entry money is returned in prizes except for the costs of the tournament, and sponsors help with these expenses.

The river is divided into five fishing pools, and the five weigh-in sites are:

· Clear Creek Park, Fort Smith.

· Dardanelle State Park, Russellville side.

· Verizon Ramp, North Little Rock.

· Regional Park, Pine Bluff.

· Pendleton Bridge, east of Dumas.

Contestants can to fish any of the five pools and can fish different pools during the three-day event. However, all fish must be weighed in the pool in which they were caught. Eligible fish species include largemouth, smallmouth and Kentucky or spotted bass.

Tournament anglers may register online at www.arkansasbigbass.com. Registration information and applications are also available at fishing and outdoors shops across the state.

For more information about the tournament, contact the Arkansas Hospitality Association at 800-472-5022 or by e-mail at aha@arhospitality.org.

How’s your habitat?

“Weedy Waterfowls” by Bubba Groves, AGFC Private Lands Biologist, Southeast Arkansas Region LITTLE ROCK - Duck season has passed, and many hunters are now looking forward to warmer weather endeavors. Most hunters and birders will agree that a day’s success relies on seeing numbers and diversity of birds. Slowly draining or “drawing down” your flooded reservoirs or impoundments in early spring can provide favorable food and cover next winter. Preparation this spring can be the difference in plentiful waterfowl numbers next year or looking into an empty sky.

The management of water levels to promote the germination of native plants is referred to as moist soil management. Moist soil plants provide abundant and diverse food and cover source for wetland wildlife species. These same areas also provide an abundance of aquatic invertebrates that are essential in many waterfowl species diets. Moist soil habitat provides the ultimate buffet; it is a balanced diet whereas monoculture plantings are not.

Timing of the drawdown is the most important factor when managing for moist soil plants. The most successful moist soil units are ones that provide the most diversity in plant communities. The greatest diversity can be achieved by implementing early and mid-season drawdowns. Late season drawdowns can result in an undesirable plant response. It is critical to conduct drawdowns at a very slow rate to achieve the greatest plan response and food production. A good rule of thumb is to draw water down ½ inch per week. Combining a slow drawdown producing a diversity of plants is what makes moist soil units so attractive to all wetland wildlife species of birds.

Moist soil areas do not have to be completely drained. A partial drawdown of ¼ to ½ of the unit will provide moist soil benefits while retaining late spring and summer habitat for wildlife. The remaining water can be allowed to evaporate naturally while providing conditions to promote preferred moist soil plants. This remaining pool of water can provide essential water for early migrants such as teal or waterbirds in late summer and fall. Water sources are usually limiting during this time of year.

In many cases, after two to three years of manipulating water levels, some of the preferred plants tend to decrease in abundance. Disturbance of the soil done by deep disking or using a cleated roller in these units will ensure the most desirable annual plants germinate every year. Disking should begin during any year woody or non-target vegetation begins showing up in the unit. Disking all or a portion may need to be conducted. For a tailored, specific management plan, contact a private lands biologist.

The pictures attached to this article show two of the more desirable plants for waterfowl. Both of these plants usually have plenty of seed in the seed bank it just takes the right conditions for them to germinate. On the left, is Pennsylvania smartweed. It is characterized by its purple flowers when in bloom. On the right is native millet.

All types of wetland waterfowl species will be attracted to locations that provide food and cover. When properly managed, moist soil units can produce 500 to 1,500 pounds per acre providing 1,200 to 3,200 duck days of use per acre. For example, if a landowner has a 10-acre moist soil impoundment managed properly, it can support 20,000 birds. By practicing moist soil management in reservoirs and impoundments where water levels can be manipulated, favorable habitat will be provided to many species of waterfowl including waterbirds.